“With it (peace of mind and happiness), you have everything; without it, you have nothing.” – Maxwell Maltz, M.D. author of Psycho-Cybernetics: Updated and Expanded
Everyone knows someone who supposedly “has it all,” yet is miserable.
There are the so-called “rich” people who look down their noses at everybody else; the world class athletes who cannot get enough attention, who feel the need to continually beat their chests, proclaiming they are the greatest.
There are beautiful women and handsome men who see themselves as ugly; and creative geniuses who hide their talents.
There are doctors and lawyers who, when asked, cannot recall a single success experience, ignoring the most obvious fact that they have an advanced degree that required years of dedication, discipline and focus.
These men and women are highly capable of achieving external goals, but when it comes to an internal goal such as “being happy,” they have no sense of direction.
This begs the question: Is it possible to be successful both internally and externally?
The answer is a resounding “YES.”
But you cannot get there without practice. There is no arriving at happiness once you’ve accomplished a goal, at least not for long. 15 minutes is about all you get.
The key to living a creatively successful life is learning how to be happy on the way to a goal, and knowing how, after you’ve achieved it, to be happy on the way to the next one.
As Cervantes, the legendary author of Don Quixote, wrote, “The road is always better than the inn.”
Are you on the road from one achieved goal to the next? Or are you stuck, blocked, and filled with self-doubt? Are you in a dark room, or one filled with light?
When you learn to savor your victories in the theater of your mind, they become the fuel that drives you to the next one. And as you’re driving toward them, instead of being in a frustrated, dark state of mind, you are filled with gusto, enthusiasm and light. Most importantly, you are happy.
If you’re expecting the future to bring you happiness, forget it. You can have it NOW, long before you reach your objective.
With happiness and peace of mind in your tank each day, you have everything. And you are truly rich.
Here endeth the lesson.
Matt Furey
P.S. The Goal Getting™ Intensive we had last week was a smashing success. I promised two hours; it went closer to four. Time flies when you’re living in the moment, in the NOW, filled with genuine appreciation for the life you get to live. Next month I’ll be hosting a Theatre of the Mind™ Intensive. Interested? Well, it’s not for everyone. Believe it or not, a lot of people resist living the good life, internally and externally. But if you’re one of those people who really wants to get more living out of life -happy living, then email me to get the link: goals@psycho-cybernetics.com.
